In recognition of National Hamburger Month, we salute the "American Soldier Burger" recently consumed by this author at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill at Patriot Place in Foxboro, Mass. (adjacent to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots).

I Love This Bar and Grill really has a winner of a burger here -- perfectly seasoned and grilled with a heaping of American cheese complemented by tomato, lettuce, some mighty tasty red onions as well as fries and pickle on the side. A little American flag is stuck through the burger.

Scott, a terrific waiter at this Foxboro location, told us that the "American Soldier Burger" is served free of charge to any military personnel with a valid, active U.S. military ID. Toby Keith, a well-known country singer, is a true patriot participating in USO trips to entertain troops in the Middle East, and we applaud him for offering our brave men and women Soldiers the free burger.

Bar at I Love This Bar and Grill (photo by Eric)

Opened just last week, I Love This Bar and Grill is a sight to behold -- 20,000 square feet of dining space, a bar and entertainment space, a red, white and blue guitar shaped bar that spans more than 85 ft. of ceiling, many HDTV monitors for viewing sporting events, live country and rock music at night, and country music memorabilia and collectibles lining the wall. The bar also has a mechanical bull, nicknamed Bullet (not quite ready, will be operating soon). In addition to burgers, the southern-styled specialties include fried bologna and pulled pork sandwiches, whiskey bottle New York steak, and deep fried Twinkies. Beer is served in mason jars!

Named after Keith's 2003 hit single, "I Love This Bar," this mini restaurant chain currently operates five other restaurants across the country, with four more on the way.

Toby Keith’s Foxboro I Love This Bar & Grill is located at 275 Patriot Place (near the Renaissance Hotel & Spa at Patriot Place, and directly across from Old Navy). The telephone number is (508) 543-8629.

Lobster rolls are part of the New England dining fabric, especially in the good old summertime. We've tasted some pretty good lobster rolls through the years, but these five come to mind when thinking of the best in New England -- based on taste and quantity:

Markey's Lobster Pool, Seabrook, N.H.

Kelly's Roast Beef, Revere Beach, Mass.

Maine Diner, Wells, Maine

George's of Galilee, Narragansett R.I.

Howard's Drive-in, West Brookfield, Mass.

We also recently ran a poll on our New England Vacations Facebook Fan Page, asking which New England restaurant makes the best lobster roll. To date, the Town Docks in Meredith, N.H., leads the pack, followed by Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine, Knapp's Landing in Stratford, Conn., the aforementioned Maine Diner and Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank, Conn. Other mentions: The Raw Bar in Mashpee, Mass., Petey's Summertime Seafood in Rye Beach, N.H., the Harbourside Lobstermania in East Greenwich, R.I., Robert's Maine Grill in Kittery, Maine, and Brown's in Seabrook, N.H.

How about you, what restaurant do you feel makes the best lobster roll in New England? Please feel free to comment in this post!

This familiar phrase our parents told us virtually every day when growing up turned out to possess great wisdom: "Go outside and play, and get some fresh air!"

Getting out to play and breathe in fresh air at Long Sands Beach in York Beach, Maine, last weekend, was a true revelation. After a harsh cold winter that encouraged hibernation -- and the perpetual four seasons of Boston area nightmare traffic and the astounding variety of driver discourtesies -- visiting Long Sands Beach was like being in another world. We pretty much had the beach to ourselves (it's packed in the summer) and the gentle spring breeze alternating with a slight Maine chill in the air provided a really pleasant feeling. With Nubble Lighthouse in the distance and two miles of empty beach for us to explore, we stayed for as along as we could -- and then stalled to head back to the Boston area. It was like coming in late for a play date. Except this time, there was no being sent to bed early or not being allowed to watch that episode of Gilligan's Island when they almost got off the island. We just made a commitment to schedule another play date at Long Sands Beach with a deliberate mission to break yet another self-imposed curfew.

Can't get enough of this place. Long Sands Beach, to us, is the ultimate New England place to go outside, play and get some fresh air!